December Etsy Promotions

In honor of my daughter's birthday later this month, I decided to devote this month's Etsy Promotions to her name (even though it is spelled differetly). Enjoy!

1. Blackbird in the Willow original folk art painting- Artbyregant
2. Regans Blooms - MomNMiaQuilts
3. Regan Key Fob - halfstitched
4. Letter R Plaque - susiezcreations
5. Regan Necklace - MyCutiePie
6. Regan the Original Maple wood Pendant - fashionrefined
7. See You on The Other Side Photograph - WillBPhotography

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen

Handmade Holidays with the 30 on 30 Project

Are you making your lists and checking them twice while you get ready for the upcoming holiday season? Well, on November 30th, help support the handmade movement and find fabulous unique gifts that will bring cheer to your friends and family by spending $30 on Etsy. It is called 30 on 30.

Never heard of Etsy? Well start out at my shop, Ardent Photography and move out from there. Etsy is an online market place that brings the boutique atmosphere into your living room.

Innocence

A Little Bit of Springtime

The Nautilus Shell

ArdentPhotography.com: Now A Little Faster

After five years of home hosting, I have finally relented and moved Ardent to a hosting service. I did not have the luxury of making a planned move, unfortunately. A power flicker took down one of my servers. It was the universes way of telling me that I was taking too long. Anyway, Ardent should now load faster and display better, once I go through and fix the glitches. Thank you for your patience and if you see anything that needs my attention, please E-mail me at sarah@ardentphotography.com.

Thanks again,

Sarah

September Etsy Promotions

I had lots of cool items to choose from this month, but these were my favorites. Please check out these talented artisan's shops on Etsy and see all of the beautiful art that they create.

1. zMacPhotography - Traveling Path 11x14 Print
2. WiteOwl - Marichelle Lace Necklace
3. GreenMan - Pea Pod Play Set
4. Lura Jewelry - Tree of Life Switchplate II
5. ellejewels - Garden of Joy Olivine Bracelet
6. Robynas - ZAZA Hammock

Oh, and if you have a free moment, check out my shop Ardent Photography and see all of the new photographs and collections that have been listed.


Thank you,
Sarah McTernen

Maternity Leave

If you have not read the September edition of The Keen Observer, our family is expecting a new edition on the 1st of October and I am no longer taking portrait appointments for 2009. Art order are still welcome and encouraged. I will start taking portrait and project photography assignment again in January 2010. Until then, I am working on filling out the inventory on Etsy and will still be uploading new designs to the Zazzle shop.

Trunkt Marketplace

Though you can find Ardent images all over the net, there is a new marketplace where boutiques can buy wholesale batches of prints and collectors can order framed photographic art pieces while the everyday consumer can request custom images. This unique marketplace is called Trunkt.com. Check it out for yourself.

I am currently adding more content and trying to flesh out my portfolio. Check back often for updated content.

August Etsy Promotions

Just a few of my favorite things to indulge youself with at the end of summer.

1. Misty Minty Green Tray and Tumbler Set by Darrielles Clay Art's Shop

2. Midnight Sorano Pendant Necklace (Large) by GoHeadOverHeels

3. Two of Us by DizzyW

4. The Birds 22k Gold Fused Glass Pendant by Moonofglass

5. A Teaset for Four by Alina Hayes

Thanks for looking and don't forget to check out my shop http://smcternen.etsy.com.

Sarah

Shelton Art Festival 8/1/2009

For all of you who are going to be in and around Shelton this Saturday, or who don't have anything planned on a weekend that has more activities than a trash can has flies and want somewhere new and interesting to go, Shelton is putting on their 2nd Annual Art Festival on Saturday from 9am to 4pm along Railroad Ave. I will be there with my fabulous booth, new photographs and the help of my very generous younger brothers. I would love to see you so come on down.

Thank you,
Sarah

Cody James

Capturing a Teenager:
My brother was up at my house for a few weeks and wanted a good pic for his web presence.

Thank you,
Sarah

New Flowers

Rhododendron


I don't know what this flower is even though I planted it.


Hibiscus


Thanks,
Sarah

July Etsy Promotions

Looking for some new art to cover those bare walls? Well remember that variety is the spice of life, so after you find your favorite Ardent Photography print, check out some of these wonderful artists.

1.Amelia Kay Photography - Looking Upward
2.Rowena Murillo - Elephant Spirit
3.Darkling Woods - Miss Fortune
4.Dana Laymon - Lonely Tree
5.GJC Photography - Wish You Were Here
6.Dorndorf - Sunflower Study 01

Are you in need of frames for you newly puchased masterpieces? Please check out Ray's Woodworking. I love his work.

Thank you,
Sarah

A Unique Vision of Firearms

Ardent Photography is putting a new face forward. Well, kind of. It is not so much putting a new face forward as it is giving an aspect of my business the recognition that it deserves. Handing out business cards with my Tinted Rose photograph to men and women interested in Firearm photography just doesn't seem to make much sense, so I am going back to the drawing board, and creating a new logo, business card and updating the current firearms web page with a new look. The Tinted Rose is not going anywhere, it will just have a partner in crime when it comes to promoting what Ardent Photography does.

June Etsy Promotion

There are some fabulously talented people on Etsy and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you. Check out these fine artisan's shops and spread the love.

1. Tracy Fire Painting - Little Red Riding Hood

2. Cindy Pack - And You Will Be My True Love handmade necklace copper and lampwork

3. Mariedear - Inside a silent tear 8x8 fine art photograph

4. Novadesigns - Copper Growing Flower Necklace

5. Two Women Beading - Mossy Brown Glass and Wood Earings - woody

Thanks,
Sarah

Tacoma 100th Monkey

The 100th Monkey will be hosted on June 24th from 7:30 until 9:30 at the Old City Hall in Tacoma. The 100th Monkey is an artist and art enthusiast gathering. You need not be invited and there is no cost at the door but it is requested that you bring something edible and drinkable to share along with someone to introduce. The only one requirement is that before you leave you need to talk to at least three people who you do not know. The idea of these events is community.

I will be making 20 Tiles for this month's event. For more information about this artist gathering please check out their website 100theMonkeyTacoma.com.

One Lovely Blog Award

This is new to me and I had to go and Google it to see if I was doing it right but I would like to thank ArtWhims for presenting my blog with the "One Lovely Blog" Award and would encourage you all to go and check out her blog.

Part of the purpose/benefit/challenge of this award is that you get/have to find fifteen other blogs that you love to pass the award on to. While I think this is great and can spread the word about very cool blogs, I am new to this whole concept and didn't have fifteen blogs that I followed. So I spent most of the morning looking for very cool blogs and going through the favorites on my computer for blogs that I had marked and then forgotten about.

So here are fifteen blogs that I think are worth your time to check out.

Amelia Kay Photography
Made With Molecules
Cat Makes
Pam Hawk
Etsy Gems
Cindy Pack
Design is Mine
My Alternate Reality
Tigers and Strawberries
Hey I Found This
The Noble Knitter
The One Minute Writer
Thursday Sweet Treat
Holly Aprecio Photography
POE

Ardent Vision

Ardent Vision

Photographic Art F...

By Sarah McTernen

Book Preview

After months of trying to complete this volume, it is finally done. A new book at Blurb.com focusing solely on photography. Please check it out and let me know what you think. In the next few months I am going to be working on smaller volumes focusing on individual subjects.

Something More Abstract

These photographs demonstrate the interesting images that life can hand you. My husband is restoring a 1969 Mustang Grande. Before he could paint the body, he had to remove the decades of poorly done paint jobs. The result is a few interesting photographs before the piece became flat black.

From the Skies

Tulips - New Editions

Memorial Day

In honor of those who have sacraficed for this country, on the field of battle and beyond. In memory of those who have not returned. Thank you for your service, thank you for our freedom.


"Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." —General Orders No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic Headquarters

Shadow and Light

Making the Old New Again

My previous camera was the static lens Olympus 3030z, which at the time I bought it, was a relatively good camera. As the years have passed, and the technology has grown by leaps and bounds, the photographs that I took with this camera, seem to have lost a bit of luster in my eyes. Though a few stand the test of time, the majority of my old images are in a file to get a once over review, with some gentle tweaks for quality and some not so gentle tweaks for artistic purposes.


This photograph is of a wall at Point Defiance Park's Owen's Beach that is yearly covered in green moss and used as a public note pad as people scrape off the moss to create temporary graffiti.
I cleaned up the noise in the original image and then added some contrast and light. For a more artistic twist, I change removed the color information and then added back just enough red and yellow to create a mock sepia finish.

Gallery Free Art Exhibit

I deeply appreciate all of the people who attended and made this event successful. If you were unable to attend but would like to see the display, it will be up for awhile and I would love to give you a one on one tour of my art. Give me a call (253)-566-6175 or E-mail me at sarah@ardentphotography.com.

Thank you,
Sarah McTernen

Portfolios: Finding the Many Faces

Shooting a portfolio is all about showing off the range of a person and finding the emotions they can portray in a single instance. Whether the portfolio is for modeling or acting, it is the same concept. The model/actor has to have the instinct for on-demand emotion, but at the same time, the photographer has to have the talent for capturing the emotion the minute it surface. There is no greater example of this challenge than with creating a child portfolio. Children have their own agenda. Directors know this and have techniques to get a child to do what they want on the set, but for a portfolio, it is more about letting the child be expressive.


The example above is my daughter. She is a girl of a thousand faces. These photographs were all taken in a brief ten minute photo session in our backyard. This was unscripted. If you would like to talk about portfolios or photographs of your child, give me a call at 253-566-6175 or send me an e-mail at sarah@ardentphotography.com.

Thank you,
Sarah McTernen

Happy Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day, I am offering up a handful of free maternity/mother and child photography sessions. Session will include a half hour of photography in the location of your choosing. To be eligible for this offer you must live in the Puget Sound Region and either be pregnant (photo sessions can be either with just the mom-to-be or with family) or have an infant under 1 year of age.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please E-mail me at sarah@ardentphotography.com and mention this posting.

This offer runs through Sunday May 10th.

Open House Gallery Exhibit

My gallery will be open from 5:30-8pm for all those interested in seeing my art up close and personal. My gallery is located in my home and I would appreciate it if everyone would be courteous to my neighbors, and not park in any way that impedes access to their driveways.

If you have any questions or comments, please E-mail me at sarah@ardentphotography.com or give me a call at 253-566-6175.

I look forward to seeing you.

Sarah

Interested in Creating Art

Tacoma is yearning to become more of an arts centered city. According to the News Tribune, the arts and Tacoma have been entwined for years, but I must have missed that memo. The new push to incorporate the arts has gained momentum with the new year and the city putting up artist’s lofts in the brewery district, but a building not too far away has been reaching out to local artists since 2007.
Tacoma Art Place is a building located on South 11th street offering art classes to the public at affordable rates. Are you interested in learning how to knit, but don’t know where to go? That is where the Tacoma Art Place comes in. They are offering classes from photography to card making trying to fill a void in this artist laden community.
Want to find out more? Visit their website for center hours and current class information.

CafePress Changes Its Policies: My Shop May Close

CafePress has decided to change their pricing policy so that all items in the Marketplace are only allowed a 10% commission for the shop owner.

Beginning June 1st: We’ll start setting prices in the Marketplace, and Shopkeepers will receive a 10% commission off the final retail prices from all Marketplace sales. This change provides our shoppers with consistent pricing that’s competitive with other online retail stores. It also allows us to better invest in a quality retail experience and continued growth.
These changes DO NOT impact the pricing, markup, or sales you are driving in your own shops. By separating our Marketplace pricing from the prices you set in your shops, we’re able to preserve shop base pricing and continue to support shopkeepers who drive their own sales.

So on this topic I sent them an E-mail:

To Whom it May Concern:

I am sorry to hear that this company is going to take away the right of the shop owners to make any profit. Most of my sales have come from Marketplace discovery and not from people going directly to my shop. If this policy had been in place last year I would have lost out on over half of my sales and made barely enough to cover the expense of the shop let alone the immense amount of time I have had to put in to create the product designs due to the need for a different crop for each product. I am very strongly considering closing my premium shop because I do not think it will be worth the $70 a year to make 10% off each product sold. I believe that my work is worth more than that minuscule amount. With this new policy you are saying that the graphic designers and artist who fill your site with unique and interesting designs, do not deserve any benefit for their efforts.

I have put a lot of time and effort into my shop, making sure each image fit the item correctly and gave off the professional feel that should go in to such designs. I am very disappointed that all of this work with have been for naught whether or not I keep my shop open or close it.

Because of this new policy change, my shop at CafePress may be closing by April 30th, 2009.

If you would like to view the shop before it goes away, please visit me at
Cafepress.com/ardentphoto

Opinions? Thoughts?

March if Full of Movement

I struggled with this month’s newsletter because everything seems to be in the works rather than finished. I am doing a lot of business networking and education this month and a lot less art (has to happen every once in a while.) I am preparing for this summer’s festivals and hoping to get applications out as soon as they are available. On the art side of things, I am currently expanding my listings on Etsy and Zazzle with work to come on CafePress and ImageKind.

The website is continuing to be updated, though the new pages I had hoped to get up fell behind due to technical updates that were necessary. On that note, if anyone is experiencing technical problems with the site, like overlapping text for example, please let me know so that I can correct the issue.

Please check out the calendar this month. There are a lot of networking opportunities.

A Gallery-Free Art Exhibit
This spring I will be holding an Art Exhibit for me, and possibly other artists if there is interest. This exhibit will not be in a gallery but in a public meeting place and will be open to all who wish to attend. Though this project is still in the planning stages, I wanted to give my loyal readers a heads up.

In addition, if anyone has suggestions on venues or fellow artists who would be interested please pass along the information.

A Request...
The internet is where people go to find information and services. A lot of people are relying on community review sites such as Yelp to help them make decisions. “Yelp is the fun and easy way to find, review and talk about what's great (and not so great) in your world. You already know that asking friends is the best way to find restaurants, dentists, hairstylists, and anything local. Yelp makes it fast and easy by collecting and organizing your friends' recommendations in one convenient place.”
Read More.

If you have a free minute and the inclination, I would appreciate it if any customers would review Ardent Photography for this site and help get the word out.

Thank you,
Sarah McTernen

Guitars, Snow and the World from 25,000 feet

I am happy to report, 2008 was a good year for Ardent Photography, both with business and with new work. One of the issues with being so busy though, is that new photographs are delayed in being published. On that note, I would like to invite you all to please check back frequently during the next month as there will be plenty of new photographs for you to enjoy including a series of musical instruments, pictures from our snowy December, and past and present pictures taken from the dirty windows of commercial airplanes.

Disappointing December

For all of the last minute e-mails and event notifications, December was very busy at being disappointing. Winterfest held true to its name and was quite chilly. People did not want to stop to look at booths in fear that they may freeze where they stood. I am grateful to everyone who did stop both to look and to buy. The art display at The Muse has been taken down because the café has closed its doors. I am sad to see it go. I will be looking for somewhere new to hang the pieces I created for that show.